Fixing structure for water pump in washing machine

Abstract

The utility model discloses a washing machine internal water pump fixing structure which comprises a base, a fixing part and a water pump, an embedding groove is formed in the base, at least two through holes are formed in the embedding groove at intervals, and the fixing part is made of a flexible material; the fixing part comprises a main body part embedded in the embedding groove, two positioning parts formed by extending from the bottom of the main body part to the direction of the base, and locking parts arranged on the peripheral surfaces of the positioning parts in a protruding manner, the positioning parts penetrate through the through holes, and the locking parts can generate contraction deformation when passing through the through holes; after penetrating through the through hole, the main body part can generate expansion deformation to abut against the peripheral surface of the through hole, so that radial displacement of the positioning part is limited, and a mounting groove for embedding mounting of the water pump is formed in the main body part. Through flexible connection among the base, the fixing piece and the water pump, the damping and noise reduction effects are achieved, and the maintainability of water pump assembly is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of washing machines, and particularly to a fixing structure for an internal water pump of a washing machine. Background Art

[0002] With the improvement of living standards, washing machines have entered more and more ordinary families and become one of the essential household appliances in life. It uses an electric motor to drive the drum to rotate, thereby continuously tumbling and washing clothes. In a washing machine, as an indispensable and important component, the fixing method of the water pump is particularly important. In existing washing machines, screws are generally used to fix the base and the water pump together. However, when the water pump is working, the pump body will continuously vibrate. Using the screw fixing method makes the pump body in hard contact with the base, resulting in continuous noise. In addition, when the water pump is disassembled and assembled multiple times, the screws are easily stripped, and the maintainability of the screw connection method is poor at this time. Summary of the Utility Model

[0003] The purpose of the embodiments of this application is to provide a fixing structure for an internal water pump of a washing machine, which achieves the effects of shock absorption and noise reduction through the soft connection among the base, the fixing member, and the water pump, and improves the maintainability of the water pump assembly.

[0004] To achieve the above object, this application adopts the following technical solutions:

[0005] On the one hand, a fixing structure for an internal water pump of a washing machine is provided, including: a base, a fixing member, and a water pump. An embedding groove is formed on the base, and at least two through holes are arranged at intervals in the embedding groove. The fixing member is made of a flexible material and includes a main body part embedded in the embedding groove, two positioning parts extending from the bottom of the main body part towards the base direction, and a locking part protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the positioning part. The positioning part passes through the through hole, and the locking part can generate a contraction deformation when passing through the through hole and can generate an expansion deformation to abut against the outer peripheral surface of the through hole after passing through the through hole, thereby restricting the radial displacement of the positioning part. An installation groove for the water pump to be embedded and installed is formed on the main body part.

[0006] Further, a plurality of limiting protrusions abutting against the outer wall surface of the water pump are convexly arranged in the installation groove.

[0007] Further, the limiting protrusions are arc-shaped.

[0008] Further, a limiting baffle cooperating with the bottom of the water pump for limiting is arranged at one end of the installation groove.

[0009] Further, the locking portion includes a first part and a second part. The second part is seamlessly connected below the first part. The cross-section of the first part is square, and the cross-section of the second part is trapezoidal.

[0010] Further, the perimeter of the bottom edge of the first part is equal to the perimeter of the top edge of the second part.

[0011] Further, an inclined guiding position is formed at the top of the through hole, and the radius of the bottom edge of the guiding position is smaller than the radius of the top edge.

[0012] Further, anti-slip strips are provided at the bottom of the main body portion.

[0013] Further, a plurality of hollow holes are formed in the main body portion.

[0014] Further, the fixing member is made of rubber.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this application are as follows: During the installation process, first insert the two positioning portions at the bottom of the main body portion into the two through holes of the base. During the process of the positioning portion passing through, when the locking portion needs to pass through the through hole, it will be pushed by the hole wall of the through hole to generate a contraction deformation to pass through smoothly. Once the locking portion passes through the through hole, the locking portion will immediately recover and expand, tightly abutting against the outer peripheral surface of the through hole, forming a stable locking structure, effectively restricting the radial movement of the positioning portion in the through hole. At this time, the main body portion will be embedded in the preset embedding groove of the base, completing the stable locking between the fixing member and the base. At this time, the water pump is seamlessly fitted into the installation groove formed on the main body portion, completing the entire installation process.

[0016] During the operation of the washing machine, the vibration generated by the water pump is effectively absorbed and dispersed by the flexible fixing member, avoiding the hard contact between the pump body and the base in the traditional screw fixing method, thereby significantly reducing the vibration transmission and noise generation. This soft connection not only improves the user experience but also reduces the impact and wear on other components inside the washing machine, helping to extend the service life of the overall equipment.

[0017] In addition, when maintenance or replacement of the water pump is required, thanks to the convenience of the flexible locking mechanism, the user can easily release the abutment between the locking portion and the outer peripheral surface of the through hole and quickly complete the disassembly of the water pump. This design not only avoids the problem of thread slipping that may occur in screw connections but also significantly improves the efficiency and repeatability of maintenance, bringing a more convenient and reliable user experience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The following further describes the present application in detail with reference to the drawings and embodiments.

[0019] Figure 1Isometric view of the internal water pump fixing structure of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present application;

[0020] Figure 2 Exploded view of the internal water pump fixing structure of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present application;

[0021] Figure 3 Front view of the internal water pump fixing structure of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present application;

[0022] Figure 4 For the present application Figure 3 Schematic cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in;

[0023] Figure 5 Isometric view of the fixing member according to the embodiment of the present application;

[0024] Figure 6 Front view of the fixing member according to the embodiment of the present application;

[0025] Figure 7 Isometric view of the base according to the embodiment of the present application;

[0026] Figure 8 For the present application Figure 7 Enlarged schematic view at B in.

[0027] In the figure: 1. Base; 101. Embedded groove; 102. Through hole; 103. Guiding position; 2. Fixing member; 201. Main body part; 202. Positioning part; 203. Locking part; 204. Installation groove; 205. Limit baffle; 206. Limit protrusion; 207. Hollow hole; 208. Anti-slip strip; 2031. First part; 2032. Second part; 3. Water pump. Detailed implementation manners

[0028] To make the technical problems solved by the present application, the technical solutions adopted and the achieved technical effects clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application are further described in detail below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative efforts belong to the scope of protection of the present application.

[0029] In the description of the present application, unless otherwise clearly defined and limited, the terms "connected", "connected", "fixed" shall be understood in a broad sense. For example, it may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or integrated; it may be a mechanical connection, an electrical connection; it may be directly connected, or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it may be the internal communication of two components or the interaction relationship between two components. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0030] In this application, unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, the first feature being "on" or "under" the second feature may include direct contact between the first and second features, or may include the first and second features not being in direct contact but in contact through additional features therebetween. Moreover, the first feature being "above", "over" and "on top of" the second feature includes the first feature being directly above and obliquely above the second feature, or merely indicating that the horizontal height of the first feature is higher than that of the second feature. The first feature being "under", "beneath" and "underneath" the second feature includes the first feature being directly below and obliquely below the second feature, or merely indicating that the horizontal height of the first feature is less than that of the second feature.

[0031] As Figures 1-8 shown, this embodiment provides a fixing structure for an internal water pump of a washing machine, including: a base 1, a fixing member 2 and a water pump 3. An embedding groove 101 is formed on the base 1, and at least two through holes 102 are arranged at intervals in the embedding groove 101. The fixing member 2 is made of a flexible material. The fixing member 2 includes a main body portion 201 fitted in the embedding groove 101, two positioning portions 202 extending from the bottom of the main body portion 201 towards the base 1, and a locking portion 203 protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the positioning portion 202. The positioning portion 202 passes through the through hole 102, and the locking portion 203 can generate a contraction deformation when passing through the through hole 102 and can generate an expansion deformation to abut against the outer peripheral surface of the through hole 102 after passing through the through hole 102, thereby restricting the positioning portion 202 from generating a radial displacement. An installation groove 204 for fitting and installing the water pump 3 is formed on the main body portion 201.

[0032] Based on the above solution, first, align the main body 201 of the fixing member 2 with the preset embedding groove 101 on the base 1 and slowly push it until the two positioning portions 202 on the bottom of the main body 201 are aligned with the two through holes 102 on the base 1. Subsequently, forcefully insert the positioning portions 202 into the through holes 102. During this insertion process, the locking portion 203 on the outer periphery of the positioning portion 202 will first encounter the hole wall of the through hole 102. Due to the flexible characteristics of the material, the locking portion 203 will be pushed by the hole wall to generate a contraction deformation, thus smoothly passing through the through hole 102. Once the locking portion 203 completely passes through the through hole 102, it immediately resumes its original shape and undergoes an expansion deformation, tightly and firmly abutting against the outer peripheral surface of the through hole 102. This change not only forms a stable mechanical locking structure but also effectively limits the radial movement of the positioning portion 202 within the through hole 102, ensuring a stable connection between the fixing member 2 and the base 1. At the same time, with the stable positioning of the positioning portion 202, the main body 201 is also completely embedded into the embedding groove 101 of the base 1, further enhancing the connection strength between the fixing member 2 and the base 1. Thus, the stable locking between the fixing member 2 and the base 1 is completed. Finally, seamlessly fit the water pump 3 into the installation groove 204 specially provided on the main body 201 of the fixing member 2. This step ensures the stable installation of the water pump 3 and enables it to work smoothly in coordination with other components of the washing machine.

[0033] During the operation of the washing machine, the vibration generated by the water pump 3 is effectively absorbed and dispersed by the flexible fixing member 2, avoiding the hard contact between the pump body and the base 1 in the traditional screw fixing method, thereby significantly reducing the vibration transmission and noise generation. This soft connection not only improves the user experience but also reduces the impact and wear on other components inside the washing machine, contributing to the extension of the overall equipment service life.

[0034] In addition, when maintenance or replacement of the water pump 3 is required, due to the convenience of the flexible locking mechanism, the user can easily release the abutment between the locking portion 203 and the outer peripheral surface of the through hole 102 and quickly complete the disassembly of the water pump 3. This design not only avoids the problem of thread slipping that may occur in screw connections but also significantly improves the efficiency and repeatability of maintenance, bringing a more convenient and reliable user experience.

[0035] Furthermore, a plurality of limiting protrusions 206 abutting against the outer wall surface of the water pump 3 are convexly provided in the installation groove 204. When the water pump 3 is seamlessly fitted into the installation groove 204, these limiting protrusions 206 play a dual role: on the one hand, they provide additional support points for the water pump 3, effectively preventing the water pump 3 from shaking or shifting within the installation groove 204; on the other hand, through close contact with the outer wall surface of the water pump 3, the limiting protrusions 206 also help to disperse the vibration generated when the water pump 3 is working, further reducing noise and mechanical wear.

[0036] Therefore, combining the shock absorption and noise reduction characteristics of the flexible fixing member 2 and the stable supporting effect of the limiting protrusion 206, the internal water pump 3 fixing structure of the embodiment of the present application not only realizes the stable connection between the water pump 3 and the base 1, but also significantly improves the working stability and service life of the water pump 3, bringing a quieter and more reliable washing experience to users.

[0037] Furthermore, the limiting protrusion 206 is arc-shaped. In this solution, the arc-shaped limiting protrusion 206 can achieve a better installation effect. First of all, the arc-shaped limiting protrusion 206 can better fit the curvature of the outer wall surface of the water pump 3, realizing closer contact and more uniform support. This fitting not only enhances the fixing effect of the limiting protrusion 206 on the water pump 3, but also reduces the local stress concentration caused by uneven contact, which helps to extend the service life of the water pump 3 and the fixing member 2. Secondly, the arc-shaped design helps to disperse the vibration energy generated when the water pump 3 works. When the water pump 3 operates, its outer wall surface will be subjected to mechanical forces and vibrations from the inside, and the arc-shaped limiting protrusion 206 can transfer these forces more evenly to the fixing member 2 and further dissipate them through the shock absorption effect of the flexible fixing member 2, thereby reducing the impact of noise and vibration on the overall structure of the washing machine. Finally, the arc-shaped limiting protrusion 206 also facilitates the installation and disassembly of the water pump 3. Due to its smooth curve design, the water pump 3 can slide more smoothly over the limiting protrusion 206 when being embedded in the installation groove 204, reducing the resistance and friction during the installation process. Similarly, when it is necessary to disassemble the water pump 3, the arc-shaped limiting protrusion 206 can also reduce the jamming phenomenon with the outer wall surface of the water pump 3, making the disassembly process easier and faster.

[0038] At the same time, a limiting baffle 205 that cooperates with the bottom of the water pump 3 for limiting is provided at one end of the installation groove 204. For the sake of easy understanding, the two ends of the installation groove 204 are defined as the first end and the second end respectively, and the water pump 3 is embedded into the installation groove 204 from the first end, and the limiting baffle 205 is provided at the second end. When the water pump 3 is embedded from the first end of the installation groove 204, its bottom will gradually approach and finally abut against the limiting baffle 205. The presence of the limiting baffle 205 effectively restricts the further movement of the water pump 3 in the installation groove 204, especially preventing the risk of the water pump 3 sliding backward or falling off during vibration or operation. This physical limitation not only enhances the stability of the water pump 3, but also ensures the correct relative position between the water pump 3 and other components of the washing machine, which is beneficial to improving the overall working efficiency and reliability.

[0039] In some embodiments, the locking portion 203 includes a first part 2031 and a second part 2032. The second part 2032 is seamlessly connected below the first part 2031. The cross-section of the first part 2031 is square, and the cross-section of the second part 2032 is trapezoidal. Moreover, the perimeter of the bottom side of the first part 2031 is equal to the perimeter of the top side of the second part 2032. Specifically, the cross-section of the first part 2031 is designed to be square. This shape not only facilitates processing and manufacturing but also provides relatively uniform supporting force, helping the locking portion 203 to maintain a stable form when passing through the through-hole 102. The cross-section of the second part 2032 is designed to be trapezoidal. This shape selection is based on its special mechanical properties. The perimeter of the upper base of the trapezoid (i.e., the side connected to the first part 2031) is equal to the perimeter of the bottom side of the first part 2031, ensuring a smooth transition at the junction of the two parts and avoiding the risks of stress concentration and fracture. The lower base of the trapezoid is relatively long. After the locking portion 203 passes through the through-hole 102, the lower base of the trapezoid will naturally expand, forming an expansion deformation and tightly abutting against the outer peripheral surface of the through-hole 102, thus achieving a stable locking effect.

[0040] In addition, this two-part design also brings additional advantages. Due to the area difference between the square cross-section of the first part 2031 and the trapezoidal cross-section of the second part 2032, when the locking portion 203 passes through the through-hole 102, the trapezoidal structure of the second part 2032 can more easily undergo a contraction deformation and smoothly pass through the through-hole 102. Once it passes through the through-hole 102, the trapezoidal structure quickly recovers and expands, increasing the contact area and friction force with the outer peripheral surface of the through-hole 102 and further enhancing the stability of the lock.

[0041] Meanwhile, an inclined guiding position 103 is formed at the top of the through-hole 102, and the bottom radius of the guiding position 103 is smaller than the top radius. The shape feature of the guiding position 103 is that its bottom radius is smaller than the top radius, forming an inwardly inclined slope. When the locking portion 203 of the fixing member 2 is about to pass through the through-hole 102, this slope plays a guiding role. Due to the shape design of the locking portion 203, as described above, including the square cross-section of the first part 2031 and the trapezoidal cross-section of the second part 2032, it may encounter certain resistance when approaching the through-hole 102. However, the existence of the guiding position 103 enables the locking portion 203 to more easily slide into the through-hole 102 along the slope. Especially when the trapezoidal cross-section part of the second part 2032 of the locking portion 203 contacts the guiding position 103, its trapezoidal structure can naturally conform to the inclination angle of the slope, further reducing the resistance to passing through.

[0042] Moreover, the design of the guiding position 103 also helps to improve the installation accuracy. Since the guiding position 103 guides the locking part 203, it can limit the offset or wobbling of the locking part 203 to a certain extent when it penetrates the through hole 102, thus ensuring that the locking part 203 can accurately pass through the through hole 102 and reach the predetermined position.

[0043] Optionally, anti-slip strips 208 are provided at the bottom of the main body 201, and a plurality of hollow holes 207 are also formed in the main body 201. First of all, the anti-slip strips 208 are provided to increase the friction between the main body 201 and the embedding groove 101 of the base 1, so as to prevent the fixing member 2 from sliding or shifting during the installation process. The anti-slip strips 208 are usually made of a material with certain elasticity and wear resistance, and can closely fit the bottom of the embedding groove 101 to ensure the stability of the fixing member 2 after installation. When the washing machine is working, even if there is a large vibration, the fixing member 2 can maintain its position unchanged through the close connection between the anti-slip strips 208 and the base 1. Secondly, the plurality of hollow holes 207 formed in the main body 201 have multiple functions. On the one hand, these hollow holes 207 can reduce the weight of the fixing member 2, reduce the burden on the overall structure of the washing machine, and improve energy efficiency. On the other hand, the hollow holes 207 also help to improve the heat dissipation performance of the fixing member 2 and prevent overheating problems caused by long-term operation. In addition, the design of the hollow holes 207 can also increase the air permeability of the fixing member 2 and reduce the risk of corrosion and damage caused by moisture or water accumulation.

[0044] Preferably, the fixing member 2 is made of rubber. This material selection is based on the excellent properties of the rubber material and the specific requirements for the fixing structure of the water pump 3 inside the washing machine.

[0045] First of all, the rubber material has good elasticity and flexibility, which enables the fixing member 2 to more easily adapt to the shape and size of the embedding groove 101 of the base 1 during the installation process, ensuring the installation accuracy and stability. At the same time, the elasticity of the rubber can also form a certain buffer layer between the fixing member 2 and the base 1, effectively absorbing and dispersing the vibration and impact force generated during the operation of the water pump 3, reducing noise and mechanical wear.

[0046] Secondly, the rubber material has excellent wear resistance and corrosion resistance. In a humid environment such as a washing machine where water and detergent are often in contact, the fixing member 2 needs to have good durability to cope with long-term use and possible chemical erosion. The wear resistance and corrosion resistance of the rubber material can ensure that the fixing member 2 can still maintain its original performance and shape after long-term use, extending its service life.

[0047] In addition, the rubber material also has good sealing performance. At the connection between the fixing part 2 and the base 1 and the water pump 3, the rubber material can form a tight sealing layer to prevent liquids such as water and detergent from penetrating into the interior and causing damage or malfunction. This is of great significance for maintaining the overall performance of the washing machine and extending its service life.

[0048] In summary, the fixing part 2 made of rubber is a preferred design in the fixing structure of the water pump 3 inside the washing machine in the embodiment of the present application. It not only meets the requirements of the fixing part 2 in terms of functionality and durability, but also provides a strong guarantee for the overall performance and reliability of the washing machine through its unique material properties.

[0049] In the description of this article, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", etc., and other directions or positional relationships are only for the convenience of description and simplification of operation, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation of this application. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used to distinguish in the description and have no special meaning.

[0050] In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "an embodiment", "example", etc. means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. In this specification, the schematic representation of the above terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example.

[0051] In addition, it should be understood that although this specification is described according to implementation methods, not every implementation method contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative method of the specification is only for the sake of clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole. The technical solutions in each embodiment may also be appropriately combined to form other implementation methods that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0052] The technical principles of the present application are described above in conjunction with specific embodiments. These descriptions are only for explaining the principles of the present application and cannot be interpreted as limiting the scope of protection of the present application in any way. Based on the explanations herein, those skilled in the art can think of other specific implementation methods of the present application without creative work, and these methods will fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A water pump fixing structure inside a washing machine, characterized in that: include: A base (1), a fixing member (2) and a water pump (3), wherein the base (1) is provided with an embedding groove (101), wherein at least two through holes (102) are arranged at intervals in the embedding groove (101), the fixing member (2) is made of a flexible material, and the fixing member (2) comprises a main body (201) embedded in the embedding groove (101), two positioning portions (202) extending from the bottom of the main body (201) toward the base (1), and a protruding portion (202) provided on the positioning portion (201). The locking portion (203) is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the positioning portion (202), the positioning portion (202) is penetrated by the through hole (102), the locking portion (203) can generate a contraction deformation when passing through the through hole (102), and can generate an expansion deformation after passing through the through hole (102) to abut against the outer peripheral surface of the through hole (102), thereby limiting the radial displacement of the positioning portion (202), and the main body (201) is provided with an installation groove (204) for the water pump (3) to be embedded and installed.

2. The internal water pump fixing structure of the washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of limiting protrusions (206) are protrudingly provided in the installation groove (204) and abut against the outer wall surface of the water pump (3).

3. The internal water pump fixing structure of the washing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The limiting protrusion (206) is in an arc shape.

4. The internal water pump fixing structure of a washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: One end of the installation groove (204) is provided with a limiting baffle (205) that cooperates with the bottom of the water pump (3) to limit the position.

5. The internal water pump fixing structure of a washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The locking portion (203) comprises a first portion (2031) and a second portion (2032), wherein the second portion (2032) is seamlessly connected to the bottom of the first portion (2031), the cross section of the first portion (2031) is square, and the cross section of the second portion (2032) is trapezoidal.

6. The internal water pump fixing structure of the washing machine according to claim 5, characterized in that: The perimeter of the bottom side of the first part (2031) is equal to the perimeter of the top side of the second part (2032).

7. The internal water pump fixing structure of a washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: An inclined guide portion (103) is formed at the top of the through hole (102), and the bottom radius of the guide portion (103) is smaller than the top radius.

8. The internal water pump fixing structure of a washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: An anti-slip strip (208) is provided at the bottom of the main body (201).

9. The internal water pump fixing structure of a washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The main body (201) is provided with a plurality of hollow holes (207).

10. The internal water pump fixing structure of a washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The fixing member (2) is made of rubber.

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